Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-03-14

am equal to it; and I'm not such a
baby that little water makes me
afraid
"Foolhardiness is far from being
courage replied Chal, with height
ened color.
''Comes nearer to it than coward
ice," sneered Rast. ''If l fail to
bring the log back, you're welcome
to it." he called out over his shoulder
as he started ahead.
ssHastv's got grit" the boys com
mented, watching him work his way
out.
eff he can't get it he'll make sure
Chal don't. Rast isn't beat so east
~"
On camesthe log. looking like some
sea-monster as it rose and fell with
the waves. Rast had calculated his
position to a nicely. He knew just
where the current would swing the
log nearest the shore, and having
poled out until he could barely touch
bottom, he held his raft as steadily
as possible and waited.
''Hurrah - crowed Ragbag, when
presently the log was borne in his di
rection.
'sStrike in the middle strike in
the middle, or twill be too much for
you" cried Challis, struggling against
his ill-nature.
But Rast had buried his pick in
the foremost end before the words
reached him. The upper portion of
the log suddenly veered and pressed
the ice cake, still bearing Rast, out
into the swift stream, where it whirl-
ed hopelessly about for moment,
and then was swept around the curve,
out of sight of the group on the
shore.
1t was Challis who broke the ST.
lence that followed. sSimon Gott,
are there any boats at the foot of the
island Z"
eyer amt goin' ter need no boats"
quoth Simon the undisturbed. "The
eddy'n kerry him ashore ter Injun
Pint, guess
"Guess ~ cried Challis in decided
tones. "Guess? l know that the
only chance of saving Rast is at the
mouth of the Narrows. Are you
going to let that one chance outweigh
all the rest? Boys, every minute may
mean life or death to Rast. What
are you thinking about?''
81 don't believe there is a boat at
the foot that will stand such sea"
VIII Ransom ventured this inform
alton. The rest were speechless with
the amazement caused by Rast's sud-
den exit and the astonishment Chars
rare words created.
"Boys, look alive Ned, you and
Harry take the best horses you can
find and ride straight to the foot of
the island. If there is boat of any
sort, put out. Will, send your skiff
after them as quickly as possible /;
there may be time if there is no boat
there. The roads are bad? Yes
don't spare the horses out on the
bay it will be impossible for any one
te help him.
The boys, thoroughly awakened,
were hurrying off.
"Some of you go with Will; the
rest rouse the town-you'll need all
the help you can get," called out
Challis as he bounded past. "Nich-
olas Derry, go straight and tell the
deacon the truth of the NATTER; - and
by the time painting Ragbag realized
this last was for him, Challis was out
of sight.
When Rast felt himself driven out
ward by the pressure of the log, his
first impulse was to jump into the wa
ter and swim ashore, but with it came
the thought of the boys shout at his
figure, and that ChaPs swift
harpoop might yet bring the log to
the beach. No, there was chance
of grounding at Indian Point, and he
would run the risk. He drew the
log close to the side of the ice cake,
and fastened his pick near the centre.
they were comparatively
steady, and tioated speedily on to-
ward the Point. For a time he ap-
peared to near land, but it soon be-
came evident that the line of foam
which marked the boundary between
eddy and tide was receding. With
desperate thrust of his pole Rast sent
the log shoreward. AS it shot by he
to fix his pick in the hind
er end, but it dropped with forlorn
splash into the water far out of the
way. Round and round spun Rast's
head with every twirl of the raft. He
was vaguely conscious that every
thing depended on his coolness but
the idea that he must think precluded
every other thought. Il must think
[ must think" He could almost hear !
the words; and somewhere in his
brain the echo rang, ''Think! think
think y
Rast pressed his hands TO his throb-
Ding temples. Oh, if he could think |
II will," he cried aloud, and sum |
noning every power, looked around
Iim. The short spring twilight was
drawing to a speedy close. Through |
he deepening gloom the shores on
either hand could be just deserted, /